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No longitudinal association between hearing loss and Alzheimer's disease pathology
Jordi H C Boons1, Phuong Thuy Nguyen Ho2, Anna van Houwelingen2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Introduction:
Hearing loss (HL) is a potential risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), with animal studies suggesting a bidirectional relationship. This study examines whether HL links to changes in AD pathology and, whether AD biomarkers relate to subsequent HL progression.
Methods:
Baseline Aβ42/Aβ40 and p-tau217 were measured using single-molecule arrays in 474 participants of the Rotterdam Study (mean age=62.37) between 2010-2016. HL was defined as the better-ear's pure-tone threshold average. After seven years, participants underwent amyloid PET; HL and p-tau217 were reassessed two years after PET.
Results:
Baseline HL was not associated with amyloid PET positivity, Aβ42/Aβ40, or longitudinally with p-tau217. Likewise, HL progression did not predict PET outcomes. APOE4 carriership did not modify associations with Aβ PET. Similarly, baseline plasma biomarkers were also unrelated to longitudinal HL changes.
Conclusion:
No bidirectional association was observed between HL and AD pathology, suggesting that HL may contribute to dementia through other pathways.
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